Acupuncture-a brief overview

The needling of points on meridians in the the body to bost, harmonise and remove blockages in the flow of energy throughout the body.
It is one part  of a system of healing developed in China which has spread through Asia and the western world. Traditionally, oriental healing included  not only the needling of and application of moxa to points on the body but also herbal and diet therapy, several forms of massage or manipulative therapy (eg tuina) and exercise therapy(eg tai chi).

Oriental medicine uses a system of physioligy wich imposes a system of   channels or meridians  on the body through which vital energy (qi) flows. These have branches deep into to the organs of the body and are the pathway through which the flow of energy in the meridians affects organ function and visa versa.

The internal organ system is like a turbine  and pump systam that  extracts  energy from the air and food , refines it and pushes it around the body. Wastes are also excreted by the organ system. When imbalance arises in the organ system, energy flow in the meridians can be disturbed resulting in pain, tissue tightness or other symptoms being experienced.   Where there is insufficient energy or it becomes stuck in the meridians  pain , tissue tightness  or other symptoms may be experienced.
The oriental modal also incorporates an aspect of genetics into its model. We are  a combination of our predetermined cellular structure (dna) and the cumulative effects of our environment , our lifestyle and our spiritual or psychoemotional state.

Life places certain stresses apon us and our systems can to a point resist those stresses and allow us to exist in a painfree and disease free state.

If  there are  temporary changes or gradual deterioration in one or more of the above aspects of our  being(structure,lifestyle,environment, psychoemotional)  our ability to resist the stresses of life may be reduced predisposing us to pain or disease.

Acupuncture may help the imbalances in the organ and meridian system but if the changes in our system are not transient  aspects of lifestyle may ultimately have to be addresed to achieve a maximum, lasting result.